Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

PRESTATYN, WALES--The Prestatyn Town
Council is considering legal action after being told to move their meetings
because the current debating chamber is not accessible to people with
disabilities.

Two weeks ago, the Denbighshire County Council, which owns the historic
building where the town council meets, told councilors that they would not be
able to use the premises after elements of the national Disability
Discrimination Act goes into effect this coming October. County officials
raised concerns that it might be difficult to evacuate people with disabilities
if case of emergency.

Prestatyn councilors last week accused the county of using the DDA to
further its own needs. Some said they believe that the county could modify the
current building to make it more accessible, and described the county's
decision to move the meeting place as "underhanded".

"The letter to the clerk from Denbighshire refers to the 'former'
chamber as though the decision has already been made," said Coun Gwynn
Clague.

According to a brief story in the Daily Post, town councilors said they
may perform their own risk assessment on the building and decide whether a
legal challenge is in order.

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center,the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.